Canada lose to Mexico in World Cup Qualifying: 5 Things We Learned

Canada fell 3-0 to Mexico in their latest World Cup qualifying match in Vancouver, Friday night.

The result leaves Canada in second-place, 5 points behind first-place Mexico, in Group A of the fourth round of CONCACAF World Cup 2018 qualifying.

There had been hope that recent Canadian improvements and a recently discovered confidence could garner a positive result, or at least a positive performance. But it was not to be.

Here are 5 things we learned from Canada’s loss to Mexico:

1. There’s still an obvious gulf in class between Canada and other teams:

No Canadian soccer fan can honestly say that Canada is a great side. But there had been murmurs of hope that the gap between Canada and the major CONCACAF nations was closing. Not true, based on this last contest.

From the start, Mexico pressed hard – often deploying seven or eight attacking ‘defenders’ into their opponents half while Canada was in possession. Not a tactic you engage if you respect your opponent’s attacking capabilities. They had concluded, quite correctly, that their hosts’ midfield and defence were incapable of coping with such harassment.

Canada never looked comfortable on the ball, giving it up too easily and too often. Canada are lucky that Mexico only scored three. But for some great saves by Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan and numerous efforts hitting the woodwork, it would have been worse.

2. Canada’s lack of goal scoring is disconcerting:

Four points from their first two matches of the round had hidden one of Canada’s main worries. They don’t score goals.

They’ve only tallied one goal in three matches during this round of qualifying – that being a bumbled-over-the-line-off-his-back-as-he-was-falling effort by Cyle Larin against Honduras last November.

Against Mexico the young Orlando City striker was clean through on goal in the first half. The angle called for a left-footed effort – he toe poked it with his right. The ball ended up in row Z of the stands. A seemingly lack of technical confidence letting him down.

These types of chances need to be on target – especially when playing a side like Mexico and the opportunities are at a premium. Canada’s other two first-half chances fell to Junior Hoilett with similarly woefully off target results. Mexican goalkeeper Alfredo Talevera’s major contributions to the first-half were limited to goal kicks.

3. Canada soccer fans believe things are improving:

Or more accurately, Canada soccer fans WANT to believe things are improving. A record-setting crowd of over 55,000 watched the match in Vancouver Friday night.

About Author

Editor of Total Soccer Project | Photographer and Writer | Twitter: @StuartGradon |
Stuart Gradon is a multimedia professional, having worked at 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.